If considering first Glock... don't make my mistake

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Wanderling

Wanderling

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When buying my first handgun a couple years ago, I decided to go with Glock because they were touted as reliable, simple to maintain and learn to shoot with, inexpensive, rugged, and good to go out of the box with no break-in period or mods required just to make them work right.

It was all proven true, by the way.

I wanted a plinking / HD gun, with perhaps carry down the road. I decided on 9mm, so I looked at G19 vs G17. G19 was the most recommended gun, but when I rented them both, I didn't see much size difference yet G17 was much easier for me to hold - the way the grooves were spaced on G19 pinched my pinky finger just enough to make me uncomfortable & thinking about holding the gun rather than concentrating on shooting it.

I did not even consider G26 - small gun is not supposed to be as accurate as the larger one, and having to curl the pinky under the butt seemed unnatural.

And that was my mistake.

I rented two different G26 in the last two months.

I am shooting as good with them as I do with my G17. That's without the pinky extension. I just bought one and with pinky extension it's every bit as comfortable to hold as G17, while still being much smaller.

G17 is still as great of a gun as it was when I bought it. But I could've gone with G26 from the start. It's just as good - at least up to 25 yards - and much more concealable.

So, if you are considering your first Glock... definitely rent and shoot G26.
 
Good post. the G26 is an awesome little gun indeed. I have a G19 as well, but I find the G26 to be the one I tend to pick up the most often lately too. I love the G19 alright, but there's something about the G26 that makes it to me, the perfect Glock...for now. I think. Maybe.
 
I have a Gen. 1 Glock 17 and while it's been a dependable and serviceable pistol it's not my first choice in 9mm.s (that being the Browning Hi-Power). I have tried the Glock 26 on a number of different occasions but have never felt comfortable with the design and ergonomics of its abbreviated grip configuration. Also checked out the compact size Glock 19 but found the Ruger SR9c to be a better fit for me.
 
I have shot the G17, G19 and G26 and even though I'm not a huge Glock fan I bought the G19. For me, the G26 is a small gun with a fat grip and I just don't like the feel.
 
I'm ok with the feel of the g26 but don't like the g19 or 17. With the g26 the grip is short enough that the angle just doesn't bother me as bad.
 
Been packing a 26 for, oh since CHL first started here in Texas.

Of course I found mine in a pawn shop, Hinnie strait eight night sights, Bowie Tactical Concepts grip reduction, gen 3 to boot. $400 otd. Added a NY-1/3.5 lb connector. Winchester 127gr. +p+ ammo is what it eats.

Fully the equal, if not the better, of my S&W 2 1/2 inch Combat Magnum.

Pack it daily, even in the summer now. My little J .38 is used rarely now!

And yes I have other Glocks.

Deaf
 
You guys used to make me mad. I can shoot a G19 way, way better than a 26. And a G17 better, yet. And a G34/35 even better.

But naw. I'm not jealous, anymore. I choose to believe you guys shoot a G17 as bad as a G26. :neener:
 
Had a 17 and sold it, recently just picked up a Gen 4 26 after renting a 26 and 19 numerous times. Happy with my decision, much easier for me to carry, and it shoots decently.
 
JTQ said:
I was expecting to see it was the trigger lock "thingy" you installed on your G17.
Click to expand...
Nope, just ordered a second one for my G26.

If you get to use it, it's very intuitive and well thought through design, and safe (but you have to try it yourself rather than just be judging by the photos). Way better than the safety on Shield ;)
 
For me, the bigger issue with shorter grip guns is not related so much to shooting them, but rather to drawing them. I find myself noticeably slower on the draw because it takes longer for me to get a solid purchase on the gun before pulling it out of an IWB holster. If it's not a carry gun (which the G26 is) this should not matter, but I feel it's a point that does not seem to get discussed very often, but is no less important. I use pearce grip extensions on my Springfield XDs mags for this very reason, as they do not help me shoot the gun any better, but help me draw it with more confidence.
 
The GAP floorplate looks like it solves the drawing problem without adding any printable bulk.
 
I shoot the 17L more accurately than I shoot the G34 and I shoot the G34 more accurately than I shoot the G17 and I shoot the G17 more accurately than I shoot the G19 and I shoot the G19 more accurately than I shoot the G26.
 
Once they are out, I shoot my 26's about as well as my 17's and 19's. Not a whole lot of difference there.

The 26 can be a bit slower to initially get a hold of, when drawing from a holster though. Even so, I still prefer them with the factory base plate on the mags too. My 26's are back ups to my 17's, and are carried as such. Im looking for the smallest package, and the factory base plate still gives that.

I also dont find shooting them with my pinkie wrapped under the mag to be an issue, and actually, find it more comfortable, than my 19's somewhat "cramped" grips.
 
I agree. Try them all. Don't exclude anything based on preconceived notions.

The gun I shoot best? My compact PPK. Even better than my PPQ which is full sized. Somewhere in there is my P22 and PP.

I'm more comfortable with a compact than a full size. Always have been.
 
I'd like to add that proper evaluation of whether or not a pistol is "for me" has to include handling, familiarization with controls of the platform, *and* shooting the gun. If I had evaluated Glocks merely by feel or impressions I'd never have owned one.

As with many pistols, functionality in the hands of a particular individual can be highly variable and sometimes contrary to one's "feelings" gained by handling and manipulation. I was less than impressed with the "feel" of the ergonomics of the Glock 9mm pistols and shot them to prove to a Glock "Fan Boy" Gun Buddy of mine (rabid and unreasonable thinker that Glock really *is* perfection...) that they were not for me.

I was wrong. They *are* for me but not for everyone, all the time, everywhere, hands down no matter what. But you have to shoot them (all if you can!) before opinion is valid in my book. Anyone has the right to expresss any opinion they like and I'll listen to them all day....but it has no credence with me until they shoot it. It's just a "feeling" and impression, possibly an educated one, but subjective none the less until we put bullets down range with it. I'd never have guessed a G26 was one of my Soul Mates until I started hammering targets with a G26 like few other pistols I'd ever shot right out of the box.

VooDoo
 
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